well as the 54 chevy pickup project advances it time to make a concrete decision on a motor set-up. The frame is a 87 s10 chassis. Currently has a s10 4.3 and 700r4 trans. Now for the options Lt1 96 or 97 (5-1000 dollars) ls1 swap (3-4 grand here in the NY area) 4.3 Twin Turbo (why? just like the idea of being different and love turbo) Would do a standalone wiring system. Wiring issues on either swap? I know many guys like the ls1 swaps. Power? Seems from just reading that the 96-97 lt1 motors had 330hp and the ls1 motor has 350hp. Is it worth the extra money for the swap and why? One more reliable than another? I know ls1 is alum and the lt1 is iron block. I am a newbie to the American car scene. Thank you in advance for any info! Andrew
I have a 51 5w 3100 and am up between a stock 235 with split exhaust and a 5 spd or a 4blt main with a t-56 from a viper behind it. I love me some 235's and have never owned a small block but the idea that I can get so much pwer so easily and be able to get a water pump at walmart at 3 am makes me happy. and with the t-56 I can put stupid low gears in it (up in the 4's!) and still turn 2500 rpms at 80 I am looking to do the s-10 frame swap as well with a mid 80's standard cab long bed truck. put 3 pedals and a small block in that thing and drive that sumbitch!
V motors don't look good in those trucks. Get an inline. If you have to have new, get one out of a trailblazer.
my firet choice would be 6 cyl with carbs and a split, definately nostalga, do the HEI and the rest it a cool set up and will bolt in if using the 235 or 261 or a GMC 302 with all the goodies my next choice would be a 383 stroker SBC which will really tork out nice
It depends what your going to do with it. The inliners or old Buicks etc. are not going to look all period perfect surrounded by modern suspension. With the Lt or LS and all the wires your going to keep the hood shut at HAMB friendly events anyway. You cant beat a small block for cheap reliable easy power. Your budget and final purpose for the truck will make your decision easy.
I'm a Ford guy but have a 350/350 in my 40 Merc and it's pretty hard to beat. Cheap, reliable and easy power. Hook a 350 to the 700r and motor on down the road. You can put retro looking dress up stuff on it pretty easily.
Wassa matter with the 4.3? You don't like 21 miles per gallon? A good set of twice pipes and it will sound like a mild straight six. A new motor, new suspension, all the comforts of a new truck.
Exactly ----- How do you plan to use the truck ? Daily driver ? Go with a typical 350. Why ? You`re more likely to find a water pump / starter / fuel pump at 3 am in Bummphuck for a small block Chevy than any other engine out there. For me, I would love to see a 235 inline 6 with a 5 speed.
I plan to get about 500 horse out of the motor whatever set-up it is. First choice would be turbo since HP can be set at certain boost levels with a boost controller. Second would be a supercharger. Third is all motor. Like the idea of having a newer motor, seems to be more practical for me, since the wife will be driving it. Wont be a daily, More of a weekend and long trip truck. Cant see the truck being driven into NYC daily. As for the look of the truck. It will be a mild custom build. Body will be debadged, pop up gas cap, custom 54 grill and no bumpers. Pretty mild. The truck is using a 87 s10 chassis leafs in the rear and 2" drop spindles up front. Body sits about 4" off the ground. Running 15x8 up front and 16x10 or 17x9 rears. As for wiring it we have some friends here that are pretty good with hiding FI engine wiring harnesses. I like the idea of carbs, just dont want to have to worry about the fine tuning of them.
500 horse, wow... easy on paper but reality and easy cruising wont be. "Custom 54 grill with no bumpers"......sounds like this.
Gecko that is it!, not so sure about using the same front roll pan but really like the idea of the grill. May I use your idea and if so how did you do it? I dont mind the bull nose, but could do without it. As for the power, I owned a couple high hp motors in light cars. I like the idea at times of just lighting up the tires. Although never did it with rear wheel drive: Here are some of my past cars, VW, I know... but: 1981 vw rabbit 2.0 8v turbo (t3/t4 60-1) 22lbs of boost pushed 340hp in a 1840lb car 1983 vw rabbit 2.0 16v with a 100 wet shot of juice 1991 vw jetta with a 96 vr6 turbo (t4) 21 lbs boost, 480whp at 460 ft of tq. Ran 11.1 with a 2.1 60 ft. bs. 22" slicks. I think a lt1 or a new 5.3 or 5.7 with supercharging or turboing could get to that 500 range. Thank you guys again for all of the schooling. Again I am a newbie and do appreciate all the info you guys share and I read. andrew
It doesn't take 500 horse to light up the tires on an empty pickup. But if LS motors are fair game, how about an LS7 that comes out of the box making 505? All it takes is money.
not that I re read that post of mine, should have said a motor ballsy enought to get that truck moving. Any body close to me in the nyc area that can take me for a ride in their truck to get a feel of what different motors feel like?? How would a stock 4.3 be in the truck. Would it move it out of its own way?
My 01 Sonoma 4.3 auto will spill the hell out of the 245/50/16s on it and will grab 2nd stock. That truck weighs just under 4000LB. My 54 weighs 3230 with me and gas. Go test drive some trucks. As for the grill I just scratch built the center section with the "tooth" out. Ill post a pic.
gecko thank you for the pic. Seems pretty straight forward As for the motor. Think I am going to stick with carbed 4.3 and build the motor. Since the rest of the truck is getting a makeover , may as well build the motor too. Have 2 4.3's, going to send one out to the machine shop and try to get some power out of it. Plan to stay normally aspirated. Any suggestions on how to get some power out of the 4.3? Bore? 4.5 v6. Talking to a bunch of people. I think my original plans of 500hp in a pickup are a bit extreme for a truck to cruise in. 300 should be nice. Going to stay carbed to simplify the wiring harness and keep it clean. Thank you guys again for all of your help. I really appreciate it!
235 with dual intake and exhaust. PM 6inarow for details on setting up the carbs (get a 216 intake and carbs) run one pipe straight out, the other with a smitty. T5 it. Or put a 327 with a NV3500 in it. Watch the video link in my sig. It's my kid's 54. He's 16 so he's got to learn how to fry tires but he's been practicing all summer. 060 over 327 with a Qjet. S10 frame swap. 3.43 rear end.
Amen to that!! You can hear my 4.3 with flowmasters and weber idf carb on this video near the end: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_kvMxmBc9uQ Just use a mechanical advance MSD distributer or a "DUI" distributer so its not using the computer anymore. In the video I dont even have advance yet, and it still drives great, but with the advance, it really pulls hard! I dont know what it is, but the V6s run so smooth compared to all the TBI 350's that sound like they are missing on a cylinder
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